Textbooks: Same books used in
Physics
108
Room: Gilmer 005
Time: 1:30-4:00 Monday
Instructor: Dr. Cheyne
Office: Gilmer 011
Extension: 6178
Office hours: Wednesday,
Thursday,
and Friday (1:30-4:00)
Introduction
The objectives for this laboratory are for you to gain a better understanding of the physics of the atmosphere by analyzing meteorological data. You will be using computers to connect to remote data bases containing meteorological satellite images in the infrared and visible, surface maps, upper-level maps, and other data. These data files will be down-loaded, printed, and analyzed.
Guidelines and Grading
Unless otherwise stated, lab will meet in G005 every Monday at 1:30. There will be 14 labs this semester. You must turn in completed labs on the due date to avoid a 10%/day penalty. Labs will not be accepted if they are more than one week late. Your grade will be determined by the best 13 out of 14 labs. If you complete all the labs then 5% of your lowest lab will be added to your overall lab grade. There will be no exams. Your grade is based solely on the quality of your lab reports. Neatness will be considered in grading your reports.
All work is to be your own. You may discuss problems only to gain a better understanding of an idea. Any duplicated work is an Honor Code violation. Photocopying another student's computer printout is an Honor Code violation.
Attendance Policy
You are required to attend all labs. If you miss a lab without an
excused
absence, then you will receive a zero for that lab. Labs cannot be made
up unless you have an excused absence.
Here is a tentative schedule of the labs we will be working on this
semester. Tentative in the sense that the current weather conditions
may
not be suitable for a given lab. So, the order is subject to change.
Meteorology Lab Schedule (Tentative)
1. Introduction to the INTERNET - This lab will be used to learn how to use search engines to locate meteorological databases. In addition, you will study the different types of images and maps and their uses.
2. El Nino - This lab is designed to help you gain a better understanding of El Nino. You will use the INTERNET to search the web for information.
3. Properties of Water - In this lab you will make simple measurements of water including the boiling point, freezing point, specific heat, latent heat of vaporization, and latent heat of fusion. In addition, you will investigate the effects of salt on these properties.
4. Speeds of Highs and Lows and Fronts - In this lab you will use the INTERNET and locate a web site which has a database of surface maps. You will measure the speeds of Low and High pressure systems which will give you yet another tool in forecasting. In addition, you will see what effect jet streams have on storm systems.
5. Upper Level Maps Correlations to Rain, Freezing Rain, Sleet, and Snow- This lab is highly dependent on the current weather conditions. Although the conditions at Hampden-Sydney do not need to have all of the above conditions, it is important that these conditions exist somewhere in the United States on the day of the lab. You will compare the isotherms(lines of constant temperature) on different upper level maps to a current radar image. It is necessary that the radar image differentiates between the different types of precipitation, i.e. snow, sleet, etc.
6. Cloud Speeds, Winds Aloft, Jet Stream - In this lab you will make direct measurements of cloud speeds and compare your results to the wind speeds on the appropriate upper level map. This lab will probably be done more than once to measure the speeds of different types of clouds and different heights.
7. Air Pressure and Upper-Level Maps - This lab is designed to help you gain an understanding of the importance of winds aloft in forecasting and how it effects the weather.
8. Global Warming - This lab is designed to help you gain a better understanding of Global Warming. You will use the INTERNET to search the web for information. This lab will be very beneficial in your report/debate assignment for the class.
9. Tornadoes - In this lab you will learn the Fujita scale by studying photographs of tornado-induced damage.
10-13. Independent Measurements of Meteorological Data - In these labs you will be making outdoor meterological measurements during the semester. The results will be analyzed at the end of the semester and will be used in determining the operating parameters at the Hampden-Sydney Observatory.
14. Analysis of Independent Measurements - In this lab you will analyze all the data taken during the semester by the entire class.
Important Websites for Physics 108 and Physics 148
Prince
Edward County Weather (National Weather Service)
Farmville
Weather (NOAA)
Farmville
Weather (TWC)
Other
Virginia forecasts
The
Weather Channel
Jet Stream Forecasts: Monday,
Tuesday,
Wednesday,
Thursday,
Friday,
Saturday,
Sunday
Meteogram
for Farmville: vertical structure of clouds with temps vs time
Meteogram
for Lynchburg: vertical structure of clouds with temps vs time
Meteogram
for Richmond: vertical structure of clouds with temps vs time
9-panel
upper-air (500mb) forecast
Weather
forecasting Models
The
Weather Visualizer (Univ. of Illinois)
The
Purdue Weather Processor
Unisys Weather
Channel 12 Weather
Virginia
Radar with directional vector (South)
Virginia
Radar (South)
Virginia
Radar (North)
Weathernet:
Radar and Satellite Menu
GOES-8
Infrared Satellite Image
GOES-8
Visible Satellite Image
Wakefield
National Weather Service
Meteorology
On-line tutorials
Virginia
State Climatology Office
Hurricane
Information
